FILING KOREAN TRADEMARK APPLICATION
Applicant
Any person who uses or intends to use a trademark in the Republic of Korea may file an application for the registration of a trademark. Although the Korean Trademark Act has adopted a registration system, the applicant should have a bona fide intent to use his/her trademark in the Republic of Korea. Nonetheless, trademarks which are not used must also be registered. Such trademarks, however, will be subject to cancellation if they remain unused for three or more consecutive years after their registration.
Documents Required
For a trademark application, the following documents should be submitted to KIPO:
① an application stating the following: the name and address of the applicant (including the name of an executive officer, if the applicant is a juristic person); the trademark; the designated goods and class thereof; the date of submission; and the country and filing date of the priority application, if the right of priority is claimed;
② 10 specimens of the trademark (8cm x 8cm or smaller in size);
③ the priority document if the right of priority is claimed; and
④ a power of attorney, if necessary.
Only document (1) must be submitted at the time of filing the trademark application. The name of an executive officer of the applicant may be added later on the applicant's own initiative or in response to a notice of amendment issued from KIPO.
If the applicant fails to submit specimens of the trademark or power of attorney at the time of filing the trademark application, KIPO will issue a notice of amendment with a designated time limit to the applicant. The priority document must be submitted within 3 months from the filing date of the trademark application in the Republic of Korea. This time limit cannot be extended.
Designation of Goods/Services: Nice Classification
A person who desires to file a trademark application must designate the goods/services for which the trademark is to be used in accordance with the Nice Classification of Goods or Services for the Purpose of Registration of Marks. The Republic of Korea adopted the Nice Classification on March 1, 1998.
A trademark application may be filed for the registration of a trademark for goods or services which fall under several classes in accordance with the Nice Classification. In this case, the applicant must pay additional fees for each classification.
Claim of Priority
The right of priority can be claimed in a trademark application for an applicant whose country of origin is part of the Paris Convention or under a bilateral agreement between the two relevant governments or on a reciprocal basis. In order to enjoy the priority right, an application should be filed in the Republic of Korea within 6 months from the filing date of the priority application. The priority document should be submitted to KIPO within 3 months from the filing date of his/her application.
Read more about Korean Trademark here :
Korean Trademark System
- Neighboring Concepts of a Korean Trademark
- Information on Trademark Applications in Korea
Application Procedure for Trademark in Korea
DAEILPAT
Trademark
Many foreign companies entering the Korean market often overlook the importance of registering their brand or logo as a trademark. This oversight can lead to potential legal issues such as piracy or infringement, which could have been easily prevented by seeking expert advice and registering their trademark. Conversely, numerous industry leaders understand the significance of securing full protection for their brand and products or services through successful trademark registration, contributing to their overall success.
To enhance brand value and streamline the process, foreign clients ranging from individuals to well-established market leaders are seeking guidance from DAEILPAT's Trademark attorney. What sets our service apart is our strategic counseling and proactive approach at every step, ensuring a comprehensive trademark registration. This enables our clients to benefit from a cost-effective and tailored service that significantly reduces the lengthy and expensive registration process, without unnecessary delays or additional expenses.
Learn more about Trademarks Registration and Protection in Korea
Our Expertise
DAEILPAT’s great strength in Trademark is brought by the experts with unrivalled professionalism in our team. Our trademark attorney consists of excellent talents who are a pioneer in developing unprecedented trademark ideas, a true veteran with extensive knowledge and experience as a examiner at KIPO and IP specialists with more than 10 years of experience. We are fully competent in handling any cases in both Korean and English, and our network of foreign agents allows us to offer a fuller service for both domestic and international clients.
We offer a full suite of Trademark services including strategic counseling, analysis of trademark trends, prosecution, handling of oppositions and cancellation actions, domestic and international disputes, negotiations and coexistence agreements and many more. Our thorough and in-depth analysis and reports guide our clients to effectively select and leave out specific elements of their mark to increase the chance of registration. Moreover, we showcase total transparency by offering timely updates through a transparent reporting process and keep our clients up-to-date with deadlines and proceedings without any error and omission.
